Group walks were such a pivotal part of me getting back outside. When my whole life turned upside down, they were how I first stepped out of comfort zone and met a bunch of strangers, they were what helped me to start to regain my confidence and ultimately, they reignited my love for the outdoors and adventure.
I have been debating whether to host groups walks for months now. In the back of my mind there is always that little voice telling me that no-one will sign up and I’ll show up on the day and be the only one (that imposter syndrome sneaking in again). However, after an overwhelming number of responses on Instagram when I suggested hosting them, I was encouraged to get my ass into gear and get the first one organised.
There is often a lot of talk in the Instagram community around ‘cliques’, though a lot of the time I feel this is just friendship groups that have formed through the platform, that go out and adventure together. I have had conversations with several people who have said they feel like outsiders and don’t know how to get involved. This is one of the reasons I wanted to start hosting group walks.
Who are They For?
The first few walks are for women only and are suitable for beginners, through to experienced hikers. I decided to start with women only walks for a couple of reasons. Firstly, this is more within my comfort zone. I am already pushing myself to host a social gathering, so I want to take steps to make sure that I’m as comfortable as possible to ensure an enjoyable experience for those attending. I have also had several conversations recently with women who are anxious to get out walking and the thought of mixed groups is even more daunting for them.
I have had quite a few men get in touch to ask why they are currently only open to women and if this will be changing in the future, My current plan is to start with women only and then, if they are successful (and once I’ve built my confidence), I will look to move to mixed walks down the line.
The Walks:
From the survey I conducted, there was a pretty even spread across Yorkshire, the Peak District and the Lake District. I’m therefore hoping to eventually get walks organised in all locations. I decided to host the first walk in Yorkshire, as it’s my home and a route and area I know pretty well.
I want the walks to be focussed on connections and community and therefore there won’t be any pressure to walk at a particular pace, it will just be what works best for the group on the day. the routes won’t be too taxing, but appropriate walking gear is still essential. There is a suggested kit list on the event page for anyone thinking of joining.
I also plan to try and involve an optional dip on each of the walks. Dipping is my passion and I want to be able to share this with as many people as possible. If you’re keen to get into dipping, or are used to warmer waters, you can check out my guide on winter wild swimming. Obviously it’s not for everyone, especially as the temperatures drop, so there will be no pressure to get in the water.
Though I have a lot of hiking experience, I am not a qualified Mountain Leader or Hill and Moorland Leader. This is one of the reason’s I’ve been putting off hosting a walk. However, I want to bring people together and help grow the community, so I’m choosing low level, low risk walks that are suitable for beginners. I have also had to include a disclaimer on the event sign up page stating that anyone who attends is responsible for themselves.
How to Get Involved:
The first walk I am going to be hosting is an 11km route around Malham Cover and Gordale Scar, with an optional dip in Janet’s Foss. I wanted to do one close to home initially. It’s taking place on Saturday 26th November, so if you’re interested in joining, you can find out more details and sign up here.
If you want to find out more information, are apprehensive about joining or have any questions, then please do drop me an email (lisa.outdoors@outlook.com) or a message on Instagram. I’m passionate about making a safe space to bring people together, so I’m keen to hear about any barriers that may be stopping people from joining. To hear about future events, you can sign up to my newsletter and mailing list below!
Happy adventuring x
Lisa Outdoors 